Officials supported a 6-month moratorium, but it won’t take effect until a second vote in September.
opioid epidemic
Posted inLocal & State
Maine to receive $26 million as part of Purdue Pharma opioid lawsuit settlement
Forty-nine states and 6 U.S. territories are set to receive $7.4 billion over the next 15 years.
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Posted inHealth, Local & State, News
Overdose deaths declined in Maine last year, but not as sharply as the U.S. overall
Data released this week by the U.S. CDC showed a 27% decrease in drug deaths nationwide from 2023 to 2024. Fatal overdoses in Maine dropped by 20%.
Posted inHealth, Lewiston-Auburn, Local & State, News
Lewiston takes aim at mounting needle waste
As some officials call for limitations on needle exchange programs, advocates say changes would harm public health.
Posted inBiddeford-Saco-OOB Courier
Biddeford council approves plan for Opioid Settlement Fund
The plan is intended to support Biddeford residents affected by the opioid crisis.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Augusta considers exchange program that would pay to get used hypodermic needles off city streets
The city could partner with a needle exchange program to offer people 5 cents for each used needle they turn in.
Posted inHealth, Local & State
Portland council rejects return to 1-to-1 needle exchange program, opts for buyback plan
The council voted instead to go ahead with a pilot needle buyback program, which will be paid for with opioid settlement funds.
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, News, Schools and Education
About 300 Lewiston middle schoolers get naloxone training as part of state mandate
As the state-mandated training for administering the overdose antidote makes its way to school districts across the state, hundreds of middle schoolers attended Lewiston’s training two days in a row. More than half of them chose to leave with a naloxone kit.
Posted inOp-eds, Opinion
Mayor Mark Dion: Needle waste is a public safety hazard of Portland’s own making
We need to challenge the assumptions of our current hypodermic needle exchange policy.
Posted inBiddeford-Saco-OOB Courier
Biddeford council unanimously approves opioid settlement fund tracking ordinance
The funding will be used to help Biddeford residents affected by the opioid crisis.